New York Jets superstar Aaron Rodgers has become a polarizing figure over the last few years because of his immense talent as an NFL quarterback and his tendency to make bold statements off the field.
Last offseason, he asked the Green Bay Packers to trade him after some rumored tension between himself and the organization. Green Bay traded him to a Jets team that already had a good deal of talent, leading to lots of hype surrounding the Jets going into the 2023 season.
Of course, Rodgers tore his Achilles on their first offensive series of the season, and there went their season.
But the future Hall of Famer is apparently recovered from his injury, and some feel once again that the sky is the limit for New York.
Rodgers himself contributed to that hype and those high expectations by telling Adam Schein the team seems to look better than it did last season, at least on paper.
When Rodgers arrived in the Tri-state area last offseason, the Jets already had emerging stud wide receiver Garrett Wilson, 2022’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, and a rising young running back in Breece Hall, not to mention a young and strong defense.
Those pieces are still in place, but now they have added a couple more reinforcements.
Mike Williams had joined the Jets in free agency from the Los Angeles Chargers. He is a very capable No. 2 wide receiver, and although his 2023 season ended in Week 3 because of a torn ACL, he caught 63 passes for 895 yards and four touchdowns in 2022.
At 6-foot-4, he is a very potent target in red zone situations.
New York’s offensive line was a big concern last season, and it needs strong protection for Rodgers, who is now 40 years of age and won’t be as mobile as he once was. To that end, it signed offensive tackle Tyron Smith, a 13-year veteran who has been named to the Pro Bowl eight times.
The team’s hopes of ending mostly five decades of pain and disrespect will ultimately hinge on Rodgers. He will need to be able to shake off his Achilles injury and play at a high level this fall and winter. He may not have to play at the level he did in 2020 and 2021 when he won his most recent MVP awards, but he will need to produce at a Pro Bowl level.
The rest of the AFC has improved, and it will not be easy for the New York Jets to merely make the playoffs.
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